Cop winder



Feb. 5, 1957 l A.,. mms 2,780,418

COP VFIINDER 8 Sheets-Sheet l Filed D'eG. 3l, 1954 Fl C7'. l.

INVENTOR CII/al1. C Dau-11s ATTORNEY A. C. DAVIS"V Feb. 5, 1957 CPWINDER' 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5l, 1954 l \INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb.5, 1957 A. c. DAVIS Y 2,780,418

` COP WINDER Filed Deo. 5l, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY A. C. DAVISFeb. 5, 1957 Filed Dec. 5l, 1954 EIS R Y m m ,w .w m m w A a f @wf n. cn 4 #a lcf ll Il. Y l B MHINHHLV II i6 -NI l 5 3 .22

A. c. DAVIS cof WINDER 5 Sheets-Sheet Feb. 5, 1957 Filed nec. 51, 1954Feb. 5, 1957 Aam/1s f 2,780,418

` co1. wINnER v Filed Dec, s1, 195A avsneets-sneet 6 INVENTOR (2l/an CIDai za/,lf

iff/f@ ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1957 A. c. DAVIS l coP WINDER Filed Dc. 31, 1954s sheets-sheen 7 F/q: I4-

l, Ha G G la, IW 54,

ATTORNEY Feb."5, 1957 l A. c. DAVIS 2,780,418

coP WINDER Filed Dec. 31, 1954 s sheets-sheet s ATTORNEY United StatesPatent O COP WINDER Allan C. Davis, Baltimore, Md., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Allan C. Davis, Baltimore, Md.

Application December 31, 1954, Serial No. 479,034

12 Claims. (Cl. 242-27) The present invention relates to an improved copWinding machine and more particularly to a continuous, or automaticWinder for producing coreless compact rolls of thread kno-wn in theindustry as cops to be used in the weaving of various fabric materials.

There is la great demand for a compact and accurate cop winding machine.This is primarily brought about by the speed and automatic features ofthe modern weaving machine. The size, density, type of wrap and theaccurate winding of the cops are becoming more and more important inincreasing the eiciency of the weaving machines. It is to meet this needthat the present machine has been developed.

When thread is iirst manufactured, it is wound in large rolls of cone orcylindrical shape. lf the thread is to be used in weaving, then it mustbe rewound into cops of definite size and density.

The principal features of the machine are that it is compact andunfailing in continuous and automatic operation. lt is so compact andautomatic that it requires very little attention in its normal operationso that a single attendant may operate a number of the machines withlittle effort.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine which may becontinuously operated at uniform speed.

Another object of thel invention is to provide a machine which may beeasily adjusted for the winding of different length cops.

A further object of the invention is to construct a ma* chine of thischaracter having a minimum number of operating parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of thistype having high production efliciency with a minimum amount ofmaintenance.

While several objects of the invention have been set forth, otherobjects, uses, and advantages of the machine will become apparent as thenature of the invention is more fully disclosed and which is shown inthe accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure l is a side view in elevation of the machine.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of themachine. i

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2with the cop removed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear view in elevation showing the cop holdingmeans.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 5 5 ofFigure 3 showing a part of the finished wound cop.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary View in front elevation of the cop holderguiding cam.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 7-*7 ofFigure 3.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 8 8 ofFigure 2.

Figure 9 is a view in side elevation of the thread tension device andelectric switch for disconnecting the elec- 2,780,418 Patented Feb. 5,1957 ICC tric power to the cop winding motor when the thread is Figure1.0 is a view in side elevation of the multiple cam assembly forcontrolling a number of the various operations of the machine.

Figure l1 is a fragmentary plan view of the control valves operated bythe two smaller cams in the cam assembly.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the adjustablesupport for the follower of the greater cam surface of the cam assembly.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13-13 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the thread cutting elements in normalopen position.

Figure l5 is a View similar to that shown in Figure 14 in which thecutter elements have moved to a point where the thread would be severed.y

Figure 16 is a fragmentary detailed plan view of the cop ejectingelement, partly in section.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary detailed view in side elevation of the wormdrive for moving the adjustable reciprocating member which in turnguides the thread upon the winding spindle.

Figure 18 is a sectional view taken on line 18-13 of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a schematic electric wiring diagram for the electriccircuit Iactuating and controlling the operation of the machine.

ln the drawings, like reference characters are used to indicate likeparts throughout the several views.

The machine is mainly supported upon a horizontal base 1 having legs 2.There are two driving motors for operating the machine. The spindledriving motor is located below the upper base section 1 1as shown at 3.The second driving motor 4 is located upon the upper surface of thebase 1. The spindle motor 3 operates continuously and at constant speed.The motor 4 operates the cam assembly shown more fully in Figure l0.

Extending above the top surface of the base 1 is a xed horizontal shelf5 partly covering the upper surface of base 1. Located on the uppersurface of the shelf 5 are a pair of supporting tables 6 and 7 havingspindles 8 and 9 for the rolls of yarn or thread from which the threadis to be taken. The type of thread or strand used depends upon the typeof material to be woven since the machine is designed to takepractically all of the well-known threads including threads of bothsynthetic and natural origin. The reason for supporting the two rolls inclose proximity is so that the trailing end of the roll connected to'the Winding spindle may be connected with the leading end of the nextroll to have a continuous threadl going through the machine. When thethread begins to feed from the second roll a new roll is put in theplace of the exhausted roll and its leading end is tied or connected tothe trailing end of the roll now being fed onto the winding spindle.

In Figure 1 there'are shown two rolls 1li and 11 mounted upon thespindles 8 and 9 respectively. The trailing end of the thread 12isconnected to the leading end of the thread 1'3 from roll 11 by the knot14. The trailing end 13 of the roll 1l will in turn be connected withthe leading end` of a new rollto occupy the spindle 8 after the roll 10has been used and the machine is being fed from roll 11.

Extending upwardly from the shelf 5 of the machine and locatedsubstantially midway between the roll supporting spindles 8 and 9 is anupright 15. The upright A supports the thread guide 16 and the casing 17for supporting the electrical leads between the motor 4 and the switch1`S.

Thev motor 3"is connected only to the cop winding spindle 19. Attachedto the outer end of the shaft of motor 3 is a pulley 20 and connected tothe lower end of the spindle is a pulley 21 and extending between thetwo pulleys is preferably a V belt 22 which will operate the spindlewhen the motor shaft is rotated. The spindle may be made in a singlepiece, or it may be made in separate pieces xedly connected to rotate asa single element. The lower portion 19 of the spindle is cylindrical andis carried within a bearing 23 beneath base 1. The lower cylindricalportion of the spindle rotating within the bearing housing 23 isprovided with means, not shown, for maintaining the spindle in properlongitudinal relationship with the bearing. Surrounding the upper end`of the lower cylindrical portion of the spindle is a ange 23 Figure 5including a xed collar 23" extending upwardly therefrom and which issecured to the bearing housing 23 by the screws 24, the bearing beingsecured to the base by screws 25.

Beginning at the top edge of the collar 23 and extending upwardly thespindle takes the cross-sectional form of a tapered triangle or otherconvenient flat sided shape 19. This triangular portion extends upwardlyfor a distance at least as far as the thread travels in being wrappedinto a cop. Furthermore, the at sides of this triangular portion aretapered inwardly as they extend upwardly.

Extending above the triangular tapered portion 19 of the spindle, thereis a sma'ller upper cylindrical portion 19" which extends upwardly fromthe flat sided portion 19 for a convenient distance to guide the cop asit is being pushed up on the spindle.

The cop is wound about the lower flat spindle portion 19' and is guidedalong the winding area by a thread guiding element such as a loop 26carried by an arm 27. This arm 27 is xedly secured to the upper end ofshaft 28 by a set screw 29. The shaft 28 is slidably supported in abearing carried by the housing 30, which is in turn mounted upon a basemember 31 secured to the base by the studs 32. To the lower end of theslidable shaft 28 at 33 is pivoted the upper end of a short connectingrod 34.

In order to reciprocate rod 34 and thread guide 26, the lower end of thespindle 19 has thereon a worm gear 35 txedly secured to the spindle 19by the set-screws 36 and 37. Extending outwardly from one side of thebearing housing 23 is boss 38 which has therein a bearlng for supportingpinion 39 positioned to engage the worm 35. This take-off substantiallyreduces the speed of the pinion 39. The pinion 39 has extendingtherefrom in hub 39', crank pin 40 on block 41 slidable in a f bayonettype slot carried in the hub 39', crank pin 40 passes through the lowerend of connecting rod 34. The slot in hub 39 runs diametrically acrossthe axis of the pinion and is fixed in po-sition by the set-screws 42and 43: In operating position the pin 40 is off-set from the axls of thepinion 39, to give the pin 40 an eccentric motion as the pinion 39 isrotated about its axis.

For convenience in setting the block 41 in the pinion hub the block hasthereon pointers 44 and the hub has thereon graduations 45. Thesegraduations may be marked to indicate the diameter the wound cop is totake. The greater the eccentric movement of the pin 40, the greater thedistance of the movement of the thread guide loop 26, which determinesthe diameter of the cop being wound in the construction shown. Thepinion 39 has extending therefrom shaft 46 extending through the boss 38as illustrated in Figure 18, and a bearing 47 is in the boss. The pinionis held against lateral displacement by the inner flange of the pinionbearing against one side of the boss and by washer 48 and nut 49 on theopposite side of the bearing inthe boss.

ln order to move the cop lengthwise in winding upon the spindle and todoff it therefrom, the hollow coneshaped member 50, Figures 2, 3 and 5,known in the trade as a winding head, or trumpet surrounds the spindle,and ares upwardly. This winding head is mounted upon a carriage 51 byscrews 52. The winding head has a slot 50' extending through its entirelength through which the Athread 12 extends to the Winding spindle fromloop 26. The carriage also has a slot 51 extending entirely through oneside thereof in line with the slot 50 in order that the thread may bemoved through one side of both the winding head and the carriage. Thecarriage is slidably mounted upon suitable upright members 53 and 54extending upwardly from the top of the base 1. These upright members arein a plane parallel with the spindle 19. The tapered opening extendingthrough the winding head surrounds the spindle, that is, the spindle 19extends and rotates freely withinthe opening of the winding head. Thecarriage is provided with shoes 55 and 56 on the cover 51 of thecarriage for slidably engaging the upright members 53 and 54 therebyallowing the carriage to be slid up and down on the upright members.

The carriage has on its underside at cach end adjacent the uprightmembers a pair of lugs 57 and 58. Connected to these lugs are linkmembers 59 and 60 for moving the carriage vertically in a reciprocatorymotion up and down the carriage guide members. Secured to the rear ofthe carriage is a bracket 61 carrying a pair of cop gripping elements63, 64 for gripping the sides of the cop at the completion of thewinding operation. The bracket 61 is mounted on the carriage by thescrews 62. These gripping elements 63 and 64 are adjustably fixed to apair of supporting members 65 and 66 by the screws 67 and 68. Thesupporting members 65 and 66 are pivotally mounted on the bracket 61 bythe shouldered screws 69 and 70 which extend through elongated apertures71 and 72, allowing sliding and pivoting of members 65 and 66 on thescrews 69 and 70. These apertures extend inwardly and downwardly throughthe supporting members 65 and 66 at an angle of approximately 30 degreesto the spindle. Stops 73 and 74 limit the outer movement of the members63 and 64. The members 63 and 64 are kept in their outward position by atension spring 75, with ends xedly secured to the members 65 and 66 bythe screws 76 and 77. On the lower portions of the members 63 and 64 arepins 7S and 79 extending outwardly from the face of the members forengaging a vertically extending cam or track hereinafter described.

For raising and lowering the carriage 5l there is provided a pair ofarms one of which is shown in Figure l and designated by numeral 80. Oneend of both these arms is hinged or pivoted to a shaft 81 carried uponthe lower part of the frame. The arms are tied together by a tie rod 82adjacent their outer ends. The outer ends of the arms are movablethrough a defined arc and are pivotally connected with the lower ends ofthe link members 59 and 60 by pins 83 while the upper ends of the linksare connected with the lugs 57' and 58 by the pins 84 and 84. One of thearms 80 carries a cam following roller 85, Figures l0, l2 and l3. Thebearing for the roller is within the roller and is supported upon athreaded stud 86, which extends through a slot Within the arm foradjusting the roller relative thereto. An Lshaped bracket 87 is providedfor controlling the movement of the adjustment, the bracket having anaperture at its upper vertical end to receive stud S6. Secured to thearm and at right angles thereto is a short foot 88, and secured to thefoot 88 and extending therefrom is a fixed bolt 89 on which are nuts 9i)and 91. The lower portion 87 of the bracket 87 is provided with anaperture to receive the stud 89 between the nuls 99 and 91. By thisarrangement the roller and supporting stud 86 may be moved by looseningthe nut 92 and allowing the stud 86 to move within the slot in the armthen by moving the nuts 90 and 91 in the desired direction, after whichthe nut 92 may again be tightened.

A multiple cam unit 93 ixedly secured to a shaft 93 moves the outerendof the arm 80 through its prescribed arc. This cam unit has three camsurfaces, surface 94' torreceive the roller 85 carried by the arm 80 andlater referred to as the greater cam surface. The other two cams aremuch smaller in size and are designated by the numerals 95 and 96. Thecam 95 controls the operation of the shaft 106 of cop holder or tailstock 97 for con- -tacting the outer end of the cop while it is beingwound, and the cam 96 controls the cop discharging means. The shaft 93'has ixedly secured thereto a gear 98 which engages a worm gear 99mounted on the shaft 100. This shaft 100 is connected by a belt 101 tothe pulley 102 onmotor 4.

The cop holder or tail stock is shown in detail in Figure 8. The holderhas an upper body member 103, a lower body member 104, and a sleevemember 105. The lower end portion 105' of the sleeve is hollow andrecessed in the form of an inverted cone and conforms to the upper endof the cop. The portion 103 is mounted on the lower end of the shaft 106by a split ring 107 adapted to iit within a suitable groove 107 adjacentthe end of the shaft. Located on the side of the split ring and adjacentthe cone-shaped end of the rotatable member is a ball bearing race 108.The body portion 103 rests upon the upper surface of the split ring andthe body portion 104 is held against the under surface of the ballbearing race by the housing 105 which in turn is held in position by oneor more set screws 109.

The cop holder shaft 106 extends upwardly through and above a cylinder110, which is supported upon the side members 53 `and 54 by cross member110. Secured to the shaft 106 within the cylinder 110 is a piston head,not shown, which is at the bottom of the cylinder when the cop holder ispositioned at its lowest point adjacent the winding head 50. At thistime spindle portion 19 extends into opening 106 in the cop holder shaft106. There is no pressure on the cop holder except that of the shaft 106during normal winding operations.

After each individual cop has been wound and just after it is movedupwardly 01T the spindle 19 the thread is severed by a pair of slidableplates 111 and 112 having formed therein circular knives 113 and 114.These sliding plates are in a groove in the carriage 51 just below thewinding head and extend substantially the full width of the carriage.Sliding action is given the plates by elongated cam bars 115, 116, 117and 113 positioned along the inner faces of the carriage guide andsupporting members 53 and 54. The upper outer plate 112 is in two parts,112 and 112, and these two parts abut each other along their edges 119and 120 and adjacent the edge of the circular knife 114. The threadentrance slot into the upper knife area of the plate 112 is designatedby the numeral 121, and the opening to the knife' area 113 in plate 111is designated by the numeral 122. The knife plates are held in slidablecontact by the top 51" of the carriage. Vertically through carriagecover 51" is an opening for bearing member 123, held by spring 124 insliding bearing Contact with part 112 of the blade 1-12 to keep it inclose cutting relation with blade plate 111.

The circular edges of the knife openings in the two plates normallycoincide as illustrated in Figure 14, for within this opening thespindle 19 rotates during the winding operation and it is not until thecarriage 51 moves the knife plates above the upper end of the spindlethat they operate to sever the thread. Referring first to Figure 2 andthen to Figures 5, 14, and 15, the knives are located below the windinghead or trumpet 50 on the carriage 51. The cop is moved up the spindle,as shown in Figure 5, by the winding head on carriage 51. While thecarriage is in its lower position during the winding of the cop, the topknife plate 112 is held in a position toward the right side of themachine, as viewed in Figure 2, by the cam 117, and the bottom plate isheld to the 'left side of the machine by the cam` 116. When the wind- 6ingoperation is completed and as the carriage is moved upwardly todischarge the cop` and approaches the top of its travel, the knives passup and over the top end of the spindle 19, after which the cam 118 movesthe top plate 112' to the left side of the machine and the cam 115 movesthe bottom plate 111 to the right side of the machine, as shown inFigure 15, causing the edges of the circular knife to move over andunder each other and beyond their respective cutting edges. The ends ofboth the top and bottom knife plates are slotted at 125, 126, and 127,128 respectively to allow for the clearance of the cams operating theopposite plates. The opening 121 in the plate 112 and the opening 122 inthe plate 111 coincide as shown in Figure 14 for allowing the thread topass into the knife opening to the winding spindle when the carriage islowered to normal winding position.

After the carriage 51 has been raised a predetermined distance the copholder is raised out of contact with the upper end of the cop. Thetiming of this lifting is regulated by the rotary cam 95, shown inFigure l0. in the path of cam is a roller 129 on pivoted lever 130 fordepressing valve stem 131 of valve 132. Lever 130 is pivoted on thevalve casing by a pin 133. Extending 'oelow the pin 133 and pivotedthereto is a second arm 134 having a portion 134 adapted to operate thearm 1311 to depress the valve stem 131V having means 135 for attaching arod 135 which in turn is connected with a foot pedal 137 for manuallyoperating the valve 132. A spring 13b keeps the arm extended toward thecam 95. The arm when depressed will operate the valve stem 131 to openthe valve and allow for the passage of air through the valve from theair supply line 138 to the line 139 to supply air to the cylinder 110which will raise the cop holder 97. The exhaust side of the valve 132 isopen to the atmosphere when innormal position, but closes when the stemis depressed by the cam 95 and directs the air under pressure comingfrom the supply line 138 into the air line 139. On the way to cylinder110, air line 139 passes through valve 139', the valve stem, 139 ofwhich is operated by lever 139'" pivoted at one end on the valve 139 andthe free end of which has thereon a roller 147.

When the carriage has been moved up to a point where the spindle 19 iscleared by the thread cutting knives, the cam 96 operates a valve 140similar to that just described for lifting the cop holder. A roller 141connected to a suitable arm, is adapted to contact the rotary cam 96 foroperating a valve for admitting air from the supply line 138 into theair line 142 which leads to the bottom of cylinder 143 which operates,through the piston connected to the rod 144, the cop discharging device.

rPhe cop discharging device is located directly above the vertical axisof the spindle and comprises a swinging rack having L-shaped side armmembers 145 and 146 and a plate 147 connecting their outer ends, theopposite ends of the arm members being iixed to a rotatable shaft 14Smounted in brackets 53 and 54on upright members 53 and 54. Fixedlysecured to one end of the shaft 148 is one end of an arm 149 and pivotedto the opposite end -of the arm is the connecting rod 144. Springs 143return the cop discharging elements to vertical position, after theyhavebeen tilted to horizontal by the admission of air to cylinder 143.

Projecting up through the plate 147 Figure 16 and secured thereto is arod 150 for supporting cop grippers, comprising a pair of hingedsemi-circular gripping elements 151 and 152. These cop gripping elementsare supported on one end of the arms 153 Iand 154, 155 and an armcorresponding to 155 which is not shown. The opposite ends of the armsare pivotedly connected with the rod 150 and have cooperating therewitha coiled spring 156 for normally holding the gripping elements closed.This closed position of the two members 'is determined by the set-screwand lock nut 157 and 158 re- 7 spectively. Each of the gripping elementsis provided with additional spring clips 159 and 160 for aiding inholding the cop. The gripping elements 151 and 152 are opened and closedby a rack 161 and a pinion 162. The pinion is secured to a shaft 163which is rotatably mounted upon an extended portion 147 of the plate 147and a bracket 164 located at the upper end of the support rod 150. Theshaft 163 has at segments 163 between the pairs of supporting arms ofthe cop gripping elements. The at surfaces of the shaft segments areparallel with the inner surfaces yof the arms when the cop gripper is inclosed position. The rack 161 is fastened to a sliding bar 165 by screws166 and 166. The bar 16S is slidable through apertures in the arms 145,146. On each end yof the sliding bar 165 are rollers 167 and 167 forcontacting stationary cam members 168 and 168 on brackets 53 and 54 asthe discharging device is moved from a vertical position to a horizontalposition as shown in Figure l. Plate 147 then engages stop members 147on upright 53 and 54.

When air is admitted to line 139, it passes through thc valve 139',which is normally open, to raise the cop holder 97, and when it israised, the cop discharge is swung down by opening valve 140, there is aslight overlap in the operation of cams 95 and 96. When the copdischarge is swung down, it closes valve 139 by plate 147 passing fromthe roller 147' on the free end of lever 139'", holding the air incylinder 110 and holding the cop holder 97 up until the return of thecop discharge to again open valve 139' and allow the opening of line 139to the atmosphere. The cop holder passes through the cop discharge whenthe latter is vertical.

Thread furnished to the machine spinning spindle must be under constantuniform tension and this is provided by a tensioning device particularlyillustrated in Figure 9. This device is mounted on the bed 1 of themachine on the bracket 169 and consists of pairs of non-rotating disks170 and 171 and a pair of grooved wheels 172 and 173. The grooved wheel173 is mounted on a swinging arm 174, which is pivoted at 175. This arm174 and wheel 173 are held in the direction of the arrow by a leafspring 176 secured to the frame or switch Ahousing at 177. The free endof the spring is provided with a roller 178 resting against the pivotedarm 174 adjacent the grooved wheel 173. Extending outwardly from theswitch 179 is a pin 179', the outer end of which rests against thespring 176. The pin operates the electrical switch carried within theswitch housing 179. The pin 179 is adapted to operate the switch toclose the electric circuit when depressed and to break the circuit whenextended. The double disks 170, 171 and the grooved pulley 172 are allmounted upon the frame 180.

There is a mechanically operated electric switch which holds theelectric circuit closed to operate the cam operating motor 4 after thecam has begun its single ror tating cycle similar to the switch in theswitch housing 179 as described for the thread tensioning means. Thecontrol element for the switch comprises an arm 181 having a roller 182which rolls in contact with the outer rim 183 of the cam 93. Part of theouter rim 183 has a slightly reduced diameter along the area 183. Whilethe roller 182 is within the area 183 the lever 181 is in position tobreak the electric circuit, but when the roller moves to the surfaceportion 183 the lever 181 operates to close the circuit.

Referring again to the cop gripping elements 63 and 64, and to the pins78 and 79 together with the vertical cam for operating the elements, thecam is supported upon a bracket 184 on base 1 and is positionedvertically in line with the movement of pins 78 and 79. This cam isshown more in detail in Figure 6 and comprises stationary side members185 and 186 which are spaced apart for a distance slightly greater thanthe combined width of the two pin members 78 and 79 when they are inabutted relationship, Ias shown in Figure 4. Ad-

jacent the lower ends of the cam members 185 and 186 are a pair ofhinged elements 187 and 188. These are hinged adjacent the bottom of thecam members 185 and 186 and extend inwardly to a prolongation of a lineextending centrally of the space between the cam members. The lower endsof these hinged elements are cut at an angle and abut along a line 189to form a pointed end 190 and extend over the opening between the cammembers 185 and 186 as shown in Figure 6. The elements have pins 191projecting through openings 192 in bracket 184. Secured to the back ofthe cam support bracket 184 is a rib 193, and attached to this rib areleaf springs 194 and 195 for normally holding the hinged elements inabutted relationship.

In Figure 19, the wiring circuit for operating the two motors isdiagrammatically illustrated. Current is furnished from the supply lines196 and 197 through a control switch 198. Referring in particular to thecop winding spindle motor 3, the current flows through lead 199 and theterminal 200 to one side of the motor, current to the other terminal ofthe motor flows through lead 201, the electric switch 179, operated bythe element 176, shown in Figure 9, lead 202 to terminal 203. The switchwithin the housing 179 is adapted to break the electric circuit to themotor 3 thereby stopping the motor should the thread 12 get broken orrun off the roll.

Current to one side of motor 4 is furnished through leads 201, 284 tothe terminal 205. The initial current to the other terminal of the motoris furnished through leads 199, 206, 207 to the switch 18, throughswitch 18 to leads 208 and 209 to the terminal 210. After the cam 93moves in the direction of the arrow a sufficient distance to bring theroller 182 onto the cam surface 183, it closes the switch 211 afterwhich the current travels through leads 199, 206, 212 and through theswitch 211, lead 209 and to the terminal 210.

1n order to prevent a collection of dust and particles from the threadduring the ccp winding process, there is provided an air line 213 fordirecting air around the lower triangular portion 19 of the spindle, asshown best in Figure 5, after the carriage has moved the wound copupwardly from that area. There is also an air line 214 extendingupwardly along one of the upright members 53 or 54 and to a flarednozzle 215 positioned to one side of and below the lower end of the copat the position it has reached when engaged by the discharging elements.This is to furnish a blast of air to the lower end of the cop about thetime the thread is cut to prevent the cut end of the thread fromunwinding during the time it is being engaged by the dischargingelements and starts its discharge movement.

The air is furnished for both lines from the main supply line to a valve216. This valve is provided with an arm 217. Connected to the arm 217and to the carriage lifting arm is a spring 218. The tension of thespring is so calculated as to leave the valve closed when the arm 80 isin its lowermost position and to open the valve when the arm has beenmoved a predetermined distance by the cam 93.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The electric wires 196 and197 are connected to a conventional electric outlet box by the plug 219.The rolls of thread are placed on the spindles 8 and 9 and connected asdescribed. The leading end of the thread, from one of the rolls isthreaded through the guide 16 on the support 15 over and through guides220 and 221 on the cross member on the upper end of the side supports 53and 54 and down to the tensioning means shown in Figure 9. The thread 12passes between the disks 170, over the grooved wheel 172, between thetwo disks 171 and over the grooved wheel 173 carried by the rocking arm174 to the spindle 19. It will be noted that the thread 12 leading tothe spindle is passed over the wheel 173 in the direction to press thearm 174 against the leaf spring 176 `ends of its upper and lower-travel.being wrapped upon the 'spindle between the .points A keeping the switch179 closed .las .long as ,the rotating spindle is drawing the cordthroughthe tensioninglmeans.

The thread is then passed through the eye 26 of the member 27 throughthe slot 50 inthe winding head, or trumpet, Sti and aro-und the iiatvsided portion 19 of the spindle 19. In the beginning several wraps ofthe thread are made about the lower portion 19 of the spindle, afterwhich the toggle 222 of the switch 198 is operated to supply electriccurrent to the motor 3 operating the spindle 19. As the spindle isrotated the thread is wound into a cop. There are a number of elementswhich help directly in giving the cop the particular winding it has. Ithas no core, it is cylindrical in shape throughout the mostpart of itslength and it unwinds from a relatively lsmall area adjacentv the lastwound end. The diameter or size of the copis regulated by the amount of`eccentric action given the `pin'4ll, which moves the arm 27 a greaterdistance and therefore moves the thread 12 a greater distance up anddown the spindle within the slot Sil. It will be remembered that thediameter of the cop can be no larger than the diameter of the large endof the winding head. An example of the `wrapping range of the spindleisillustrated in Figures 2 and 5 in the latter of which the arm 27 isshown at the Thethread is shown and E. As the winding continues thethread on the spindle piles up. When-the pile is of suchdiameter tocontact the inner surface of the winding head, thetaper of the surfaceof the winding head will slide the pile Aup the spindle as the wrappingcontinues. The cop holder is in position `surrounding the spindle tocontact the upper end of the cop as it emerges from the winding head. Asadditional thread is wrapped about the bottom of the cop, it is forcedup against thecop holder until the collar .me on the shaft 106 moves upinto contact with the lever 224 whichoperates the switch 18 starting themotor 4. The motor, `asstatedrotates the camwheel 93. `Referring inparticular to Figures 1 .and l0, as the cam wheel is rotated in thedirection of the arrow, theifollower 8S contacting surface 94, beginstomove the carriage 51 and the winding head upwardly through itsconnection to the arm titl. At first the movement is very gradual andmoves the carriage a shortdistance when the upward motion of thecarriage is momentarily stopped and dropped for a very short distanceiby the change in direction of the cam at the point 94a to slightlyloosen the cop from the winding head andto immediately make the'initialturns for a new cop after which there is a-dwelling period before thecarriage again starts its Vupward movement. As the cam wheel continuesto rotate, the follower 85 again begins to move the carriage '51upwardly, the members 63 and 64 `are movedinwardly to'contact the cop,helping to support vthe same as it is being moved upwardly by thewinding head. These 'members are moved in toward the cop by theseparationof the lower ends of the members 65 andi-66, which pivot uponthe pins 69 and 70 operating within the slots 71 and 72. The lower endsof the members 65 and'66 are separated by the extended pins 78 and 79which come into contact with the point 19t? of the `two members 1187 and.188. The point 19d moves between the two members 78 and 79 causing themto move outwardly and continue along the outer surface of the members185` and 186. When the carriage has reached a point to where the cop isto be dotted from the spindle, the pins 78 ,and 79 move past the top ofthe cam members '18Sandr186, releasing the members 63 and 64 fromthesiderof the cop, after which the pinsarefagainbroughtfinabutting-relationship by the spring '75. Whenthe'carriage moves down, the members now being in` abuttingrelationship,movedown through the space between thetwo cam members "185 and 186 andout past Athe resilientlyheld'members 187'and '188 where they are in"positionto begin aneWcyCle.

When the `follower reaches -a point ,onlhecam surface at approximately94h, the cop holder or tail stock operating cam 95 comes into contactwith the roller 129 which operates the valve 132, closing the opening tothe atmosphere and directing air through the air line 139 to the underside of the piston carried by the cop holder shaft 1116 in cylinder 11)andraising the cop holder out of contact with the upper end of the woundcop, after which the carriage and winding head are moved rapidly totheir upward position by the `direction of the cam surface from thepoint 94h to the point 94e.

During the last stage of the upward movement of the carriage and afterthe carriage is beyond the outer free end of the spindle 19", the plates111 and 112.are operated to sever the thread adjacent the bottom of thecop. Normally the knives are carried as shown `in Figure 14 around thespindle in open position .by .the knife plates riding along the edges ofthe cams 116 and 117 and as the knives near the top, ythe cam 118 movesthe upper plate 112 to the left and the cam 115 moves the lower plate111 to the right causing the knives to move tothe position shown inFigure l5, severing the thread 12 just below theA bottom of the cop.When the carriage starts its return travel the cams 116 and 117 operateto move the knife plates back to the normal position as shown in Figure14 and over the outer end of the spindle.

When the carriage approaches the end of its upper travel, the cop'entersthe opening between the two discharging elements 151and 152 and thefingers 159 and 169 and leaves spindle 19". As the cam 94 continues torotate, the cam operates to continue to force the cop further `into theelements 151 and 152 of the discharging device. When the follower 8Sreaches a point indicated at 9id, the cam 96 comes into contact with theroller 141 whichoperates the valve 14d, which releases air into thebottom of the cylinder 1413, forcing the enclosed piston, which issecured to the inner end of rod 144, outwardly. Through the linkagepreviously described the pivoted support carrying the cop dischargingmechanism is tilted outwardly about the axis of the shaft 148 to ahorizontal position as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure l, andair is trappedin the cylinder 111i by the closing of valve 139. As thedischarging mechanism is moved to its horizontal position, the roller167 comes into contact with the stationary cam 16S' moving the lbar 164to the right, looking at Figure 16, thereby ro tating the pinion 162 andshaft 163 to spread the arms 153 and 154 to release the cop from themembers 151 and 152, after which the cop drops to an appropriatereceiver 224. As the roller 141 leaves the cam 96 the valve 14d isclosed to the air supply line and the piston on the rod 14d returns toits normal position under the action of springs 143e which return thedischarging mechanism to its normal position to open valve 139 and toreceive the next wound cop. While this operation has been going on thevalve 216 has been opened and air has been di rected around Ithe base ofthe spindle to blow away the dust and particles of thread that haveaccumulated during the winding of the previous cop. Also, air has beendirected to the nozzle 215 to prevent the tail end of the cop fromunwinding, and when the arm 8i) Iis returned to its normal resting placethe valve 216 is closed.

if for any reason it becomes necessary to raise the cop holder when themachine is not actually running, the

f foot pedal 137 will operate valve 132 through the connecting rod 136and the pivoted member 134.

lt should also be noted that in the operation of the cam 93 the contactcontrol arm 181 carrying the roller `182 moves along the outer surface183 and 183 of the cam 93 and is so located as -to come to rest at apoint in the area 183.

As switches 18 and 211 are both used to close the electric circuit tothe motor 4, the first electric impulses are sent to the motor byoperation ofthe switch 18 by the 'raising'of the cop holder or tailstock. As soon as the 11 motor begins to operate, it rotates the shaft93' and as the cams move in the direction of the arrow the roller 182 israised by the portion 183 of the cam 93 closing the switch 211. When thecop holder switch operating means 223 has moved beyond the arm 224 ofthe switch 18 the arm is released and the switch is opened; however, theswitch 211 keeps the circuit closed to the motor 4 as long as the roller182 is upon the raised cam surface 183. When the roller 132 drops againonto the cam portion 183' the motor is cut oi until the tail stock againtrips the switch 18, when the same operation is repeated for eachwinding of a single cop.

As the cop is moved upwardly -by the winding head on the movablecarriage, the spindle 19 continues to rotate, and as the cop is movedaway from the lower triangular portion of the spindle, the thread beginsto wrap about the spindle to start the winding of a new cop. As thewinding head is moved upwardly, the thread fed to the spindle movesthrough the slots 5G' and 51 allowing a substantial mass to wind uponthe spindle while the wound cop is being dotted from the spindle.However, this mass does not build up to such proportion as to not beable to pass through the lower opening in the carriage and winding head.When the winding head and carriage are returned to their lowerpositions, the -thread 12 passes up through the slots 51' in thecarriagek and 50 in the winding head in order that the winding will takeplace within the winding head.

It is to be understood that while a particular embodiment of theinvention has been illustrated and described tin detail, this is notintended as a limitation, as it is obvious that various changes andmodifications may be made by one skilled in the art and still be withinthe scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patentis:

l. A cop winding machine comprising in combination, a spindle includinga supporting bearing for one end thereof adapted to be rotated in a xedlongitudinal position and having a winding portion extending outwardlyfrom one side of the bearing for winding a thread thereon into a tightcompact mass, means to feed thread to be wound to a section of thespindle, a winding head having an opening therethrough surrounding saidspindle and positioned adjacent the section of the spindle upon whichthe thread is being wound, the outer portion of the opening in thewinding head being tapered outwardly from the spindle bearing to form aninner tapered surface, the winding head having a slot longitudinally ofthe head for admitting the thread to the spindle, said wound mass beingadvanced along the spindle toward its outer end as its mass is built upin contact with the tapered surface of the winding head, means formoving the winding head along the spindle between its winding positionand a point beyond the outer end of the spindle for dofiing the woundmass from over the outer end of the spindle after the wound mass hasbeen built up along the spindle for a predetermined distance, movablereceiving means located beyond the outerend of the spindle forfrictionally receiving the wound mass from the spindle, means forsevering the thread to the wound mass after the winding head has passedbeyond the outer end of the spindle and means for operating thereceiving means to discharge the wound mass from the machine.

2. An automatic cop winding machine comprising, in combination a spindleincluding a bearing adjacent one end thereof for rotatably supportingthe spindle in a fixed longitudinal position and means for rotating saidspindle, the spindle extending beyond the bearing to receive thread towind a cop thereon, means to feed thread to be wound to a section of thespindle, a winding head having an opening therethrough surrounding thespindle and positioned adjacent the section of the spindle upon whichthe thread is being wound, means including said head for moving the copalong the spindle and dothng the same from over the outer end thereofopposite the bearing, when the cop windings have reached a predeterminedmass, a cop discharging unit positioned beyond the outer end of thespindle for receiving the cop from the cop moving means, the dischargingunit being swingingly supported upon the machine, means forautomatically swinging the discharging unit from cop receiving positionand discharging the wound cop from the discharging unit outside the areain which the cop was first received.

3. In an automatic cop winding machine comprising, in combination, arotary spindle supported at one end and adapted to be rotated in a xedlongitudinal position, and means for rotating said spindle, a windinghead having an opening therethrough positioned about the said spindle,means for supplying thread to the rotating spindle for forming a cop, ahollow cop holder extending over the end of the spindle and in contactwith the wound end of the cop during the winding thereof for applyingpressure thereto in the direction of the winding head, means for movingthe wound cop along and over the other end of the spindle and means forwithdrawing the cop holder from contact with the vcop during the finaltravel of the cop over the said other end of the spindle, adjustableswitch operating means supported on the cop holder and a switchoperatable by the said operating means for closing an electric circuitto the cop moving means for initiating the movement of the cop dofingmeans.

4. In a cop winding machine, the combination of a rotary spindlesupported at one end and adapted to be rotated in a fixed longitudinalposition, a winding head positioned about the spindle and having alateral opening therethrough, means for supplying a thread to the rotaryspindle through the said opening, a hollow cop holder extending over theother end of the spindle and in contact with the woundend of the copduring the winding thereof for applying pressure thereto in thedirection of the head, a carriage means having an opening therethroughfor supporting the winding head, said carriage having supporting tracksextending longitudinally of the spindle for guiding the carriageparallel with the rotating spindle, means for moving the carriage andwinding head along and beyond the spindle said other end to doif the coptherefrom, thread severing means carried on Ithe carriage back of thewinding head, means carried upon the carriage tracks for operating thethread severing means as the carriage moves beyond the said other end ofthe spindle.

5. In a machine as set forth in claim 4 in which the severing meansextend on opposite sides of the winding spindle during the windingoperation and operate to sever the thread when the carriage is movedbeyond the said other end of the spindle.

6. In a machine as claimed in claim 5 in which the severing means arecarried upon a pair of sliding plates, the plates sliding upon thecarriage and having means extending along the carriage tracks foroperating the plates to sever the thread by traversing the threadextension in the carriage.

7. In a cop winding machine, the combination of a rotary spindlesupported at one end and adapted to be rotated in a fixed longitudinalposition, a winding head positioned about the spindle and having alateral opening therethrough, means for supplying a thread to therotating spindle through said opening, a carriage having a lateralopening therethrough, joining the head opening, for supporting thewinding head, guiding means for the said carriage positioned parallelwith the said spindle, a rotary cam for moving the carriage and windinghead along the spindle to dofI" a cop therefrom, the ythread passingthrough said openings, means carried by the carriage outside the windinghead for gripping the sides of the cop during the outward travel of thecarriage.

8. Ina machine as claimed in claim 7 in which the cop gripping means hasa pair of cam following pins carried thereon, a straight cam elementextending parallel with the carriage supporting guiding means andpositioned to be engaged by the following pins carried by the saidgripping means to maintain the gripping means in gripping relation to acop being ejected.

9. In a cop winding machine, a winding spindle supported at one end,means to rotate the spindle in a fixed longitudinal position, a carriagehaving a conical winding head thereon flaring toward the spindle andsurrounding the spindle adjacent its -supported end, means reciprocatinglongitudinally of the spindle to feed thread for winding to the spindlewithin the head, means to move the carriage and head along the spindleto dol a wound cop therefrom and means on the carriage to sever thethread from the wound cop.

l0. A cop winding machine comprising in combination, a winding spindleand a non-rotating winding head, means to rotate the winding spindlecontinuously while winding successive cops thereon, means 'to supplythread to the spindle for winding successive cops, means to initiate thewinding of a new cop before the thread end is cut from a completed cop,and means for severing and separating a completed cop from the newlyforming cop and spindle, while the spindle continues its rotation, thecontinuous spindle rotation imparting continuous relative rotation ofthe completed cop with respect to the winding head,

1l. A cop winding machine comprising in combination, a winding spindle,means to rotate the same continuously while winding successive copsthereon, means to supply thread to lthe spindle for Winding successivecops, means to initiate the winding of a new cop before the removal of acompleted cop from the rotating spindle, means for severing andseparating a completed cop from the newly forming cop and spindle, whilethe spindle continues i-ts rotation, and means to control the movementof the completed cop immediately upon its separation from the spindle.

l2. A cop winding machine comprising in combination, a winding spindle,means to rotate the same continuously while winding successive copsthereon, means to supply thread to the spindle for winding successivecops, means to initiate the wind-ing of -a new cop before the thread endis cut from a completed cop, means to hold the completed copcircumferentially while separating the same from the Winding spindle andmeans including said holding means for severing and separating acompleted cop from the newly forming cop, while the spindle continuesits rotation.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,209,208 Reiners July 23, 1940 2,369,606 Reiners Feb. 13, 1945 FOREIGNPATENTS 188,195 Switzerland Mar. 1, 1937

